Night Train

Part of my recovery process is starting to do more of what I used to do when I was fit and well. Getting out and seeing live bands would definitely fall under that heading. I'd seen Chuck Prophet at the Metronome (and just about it made it unscathed) and last week I figured I'd be able to manage DeWolff at the Rescue Rooms (I saw it was a 10pm curfew so happy days - I still get very tired). All the way from Amsterdam, I've been following this insanely talented Dutch guitar/Hammond/drums trio for a few years now but this was the first time I'd managed to see them in a live situation. 

If I tell you they opened with this and didn't take their foot off the gas for 90 minutes it'll give you an ideas of just how good a night it was. A quick explainer - it was just the three of them last week, not the full on wall of sound with horn section and backing singers you see below. (And that's taking absolutely nothing away from them or their ridiculously high energy levels.)

DeWolff - Night Train (2025)

 

★

A week later and I'm still kicking myself for not getting to the venue a little earlier; that said I was still able to catch a fair bit of the support band's set and generally weigh 'em up. It can be daunting opening for anyone, let alone an established act, but Silveroller don't do nerves. Watching them strutting around - like they owned the place - it was like seeing a cross between Rod and the Faces and the Black Crowes up there on stage. And good to see the sound guy didn't fuck about with their sound either. I'd definitely like to catch them again. Preferably when they're headlining.

Silveroller - Hold (2024)

Chapeau

The three tickets for last night's Supersuckers gig at The Rescue Rooms had been sitting in my phone for weeks. As soon as I saw they were doing a few UK dates I grabbed 'em quick. And so, on what turned out to be one of the wettest nights of the year, Steve, Neil and yours truly aquaplaned to the venue, and after a few beers and a catch up, made our way to the stage. Showtime.

The band's lineup may have changed (multiple times) in the thirty something years they've been going but singer and bass-man Eddie Spaghetti has remained constant. His trademark cowboy hat never* leaves his head all night and the band play a rabble rousing set that rarely falls below 100mph; though as you can see from the clip below, sometimes they can drop a gear (Coattail Rider normally sounds like this) and sometimes they play acoustic (sometimes they even go full on country). But whatever the lineup, whatever means of amplification are to hand and whatever head gear is or isn't worn the Supersuckers remain The Greatest Rock and Roll Band In the World.

Supersuckers - Coattail Rider (Live on The Fox 101.7 in 2017)

 *Never say never

Papa Roach

Caught up with Andrew Roachford MBE at the Rescue Rooms this week. I last saw him over 10 years ago at The Bodega when I reviewed the gig for the paper and, I can honestly say, I'd almost forgotten just how amazing he is. From the moment he walked on stage to when he departed 90 minutes later he was pulling quality songs out of his arse left, right and centre. And he was having a ball. As was everyone in the room - a few of which (me included) were at his first ever Nottingham gig at Rock City 35 years ago. Where does the time go?

...

Roachford - Kathleen (1988)

It's a wrap

2022. Where did it go? Blink and you miss it; only seems like five minutes ago since I was planning my American adventure. Now it's December and I can only dream about California. (However, my Amtrak photobook is beginning to take shape.)

Spotify have just wrapped up my year, as they normally do, and informed me that I've clocked up nearly 40,000 minutes of listening in '22 and have heard just shy of 4,000 songs. Below are the Match of the Day highlights...

It probably won't surprise you to learn that of the Top 5 most listened to artists I've been to see three of them live this year; and in the case of Ian Prowse I'll be clocking him for the 4th time this year when he visits The Resue Rooms on Thursday. He's very kindly put us on the gezzy - we've spoken to him after all three previous shows this year (Hull, Manchester & Totnes) and he is such a nice guy. Ian mans his own merch stand and the Medds always have a drink with him and invariably make a purchase!

I really hope I can apply the handbrake to 2023 before it runs away with me but I very much doubt I'll be able to. I've got so much I want to cram in next year it's untrue. But I'm jumping the gun, I know; slowly slowly catchy monkey. 

To Sarah with love

Going for an early Currie

It's all about timing. Being in the moment. And it helps if you know what the other person's thinking; like if they're playing a show in town and decide to bring the whole thing forward by an hour. Six bloody hours before the clocks go back.

I've never seen Del Amitri, so jumped at the chance of sliding in to the Rescue Rooms last night to catch Justin Currie. 'What time's he on?' I casually asked the guy on the door. Looking at my watch it was half eight. 'Put your money away, he's been on an hour, get yourself in.' Aaaaaagh!

By the time I found my vantage point he started playing the divine Driving With The Brakes On. Had I have paid to get in then this alone would have been worth the entrance money. Thirty minutes later and he was done. I didn't have the right to feel short changed as money hadn't exchanged hands; I just wish I'd known earlier. I don't even know if he played this . As you can see it reduces Chris Difford to tears. It does me as well. And here it is played on the piano.